'Took 13 wickets in 3 matches, what more will you take from me?': Mohammed Shami'
Shami takes indirect dig at Virat Kohli & Ravi Shastri for his exclusion from 2019 WC semifinal
New Delhi: Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has taken an indirect dig at former captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri for his exclusion from the playing XI in the 2019 World Cup semi final against New Zealand. Despite being one of India's best bowlers in the tournament, Shami was left out of the crucial match at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Shami had an impressive performance in the 2019 World Cup, picking up 14 wickets, including a five-wicket haul, in just four matches. However, the 33-year-old was surprisingly not included in the playing XI for the semifinal, where the team management opted for two pacers and a spinner.
Speaking on Shubhankar Mishra's podcast, Shami expressed his frustration about his exclusion despite his strong performance in the tournament. He mentioned the lack of proper communication regarding his omission from the semifinal.
"Mere dimaag mein sawaal aata hai, team ko joh players chaiye joh perform karta hai. 3 matches mein 13 wickets li hai, aur kya loge aap mere se? Nahi mere pass sawal hai naa uska answer hai. Mujhe mauka doge toh mein jaake baat karunga. Apna skills dikhaunga jab mere haath mein ball hogi," Shami said.
("My mind is filled with questions. The team needs players who perform. I have taken 13 wickets in 3 matches, what more do you expect from me? Neither have I questions nor the answer. If you give me a chance, I will go and talk. I will show my skills when the ball is in my hand.")
India's hopes of winning the ODI World Cup for the third time were dashed when they lost to eventual runners-up New Zealand in the semifinal. Chasing a target of 240 runs, India was bowled out for 221 in 49.3 overs. Ravindra Jadeja top-scored with 77 off 59 balls, but his effort was in vain as India fell 19 runs short.
Four years later, in 2023, India reached the final of the ODI World Cup without losing a single match. However, Rohit Sharma and his team suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Australia, who clinched their sixth title in the final held in Ahmedabad in November.
Mohammad Shami taking a dig at kohli-shastri politics for excluding him from 2019 wc semifinal 👏 pic.twitter.com/GJxP78vkrI
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Over 300 students from govt schools in Punjab qualify JEE Mains 2026: Education minister
Chandigarh (PTI): Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Saturday said 305 students from government schools qualified in their first attempt of the joint entrance examination (JEE) Mains 2026.
This number reflects an increase of 63 per cent from last year's 187 successful candidates, he said describing the achievement as a defining moment for the state's school education system.
Bains shared that five students from his constituency Sri Anandpur Sahib also cracked the prestigious examination.
He announced that the government will organise a special three-week residential training camp to prepare the qualified students for JEE Advance, ensuring they receive focused guidance for the next stage.
"This feat marks a moment of immense pride for our entire school education department. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our dedicated teachers. The recent JEE Mains Phase 1 results showcased an outstanding performance by the Punjab government schools, with 305 students cracking the competitive engineering exam," Bains said.
This feat represents a remarkable 63 per cent increase from last year's 187 qualifiers, he said.
"Achieving such a significant milestone in just one year is a testament to the transformative power of our Punjab 'Sikhya Kranti' initiative. We are committed to further accelerating our progress," the state education minister said.
He also shared that Bhavishya, a Class 12 non-medical student from the School of Eminence in Amritsar secured an impressive 98.182 percentile.
His father runs a mobile repair shop and his mother works as a tailor.
"Despite financial constraints, his determination to pursue engineering and uplift his family remained unshaken. With strong school support and disciplined preparation, he achieved outstanding success," he said.
He further informed that Dilkhush Jha, a government school student from Bathinda, scored 95.091 percentile in JEE Mains.
With his father being a labourer and mother a homemaker, and an annual family income of Rs 1.2 lakh, he relied on self-study.
Similarly, Priyanka Sharma, a science student from the School of Eminence, Sangrur, secured a 96.44 percentile in JEE Mains while simultaneously preparing for NEET.
Bains said no other state government has matched this scale of achievement in government schools.
He congratulated all 305 students and their parents, and thanked the teachers for making what he described as a historic day for Punjab's government school system.
